Aeration Update

With the Founders Cup in the rear-view mirror, the team is moving to the aeration of the putting surfaces. We began the process on Sunday evening to try to complete a few greens before the next cold front comes through with potentially heavy rain. Aeration is one of the most beneficial agronomic processes to help with these 100-year-old surfaces. Each year we conduct physical properties testing of the existing greens to tell us how we are doing with the management of the underlying rootzone. These data points help us identify challenges and assist in creating a strategic plan with cultural practices such as sand topdressing and aeration.

 

Once the plan is created it is time for our team to execute, each golf course or turf manager may have a different strategy based on the conditions, availability of labor and grass types. This link from the USGA Green Section gives a general view of the ins and outs of aeration. 

At Hyde Park this year we plan to impact 8-10 percent of surface area with this aeration while incorporating about 80-100 tons of sand to a depth of 2.5”. In order for the aeration to be successful we need to have dry weather and the soil profile needs to be at an ideal moisture content, if the underlying profile is too wet there is a risk of damage from the equipment and wet sand does not work into the open holes well. The forecast has not been in our favor this week with multiple days of rain slated, which has delayed our progress. (6 greens have been completed) We will have a better idea on resumption when the front moves through on Thursday afternoon. We will continue to update the membership as we know more about the soil conditions to complete the aeration and begin the healing process as soon as possible.

 

The Aeration Process at HP

 

We utilize a large tractor mounted aerifier, the cores are left on the surface to dry and they are shoveled or pushed into piles and picked up by the team.

 

Close-up of cores 

Tractor Mounted Aerator 

Pushing Dry Cores into piles for pick-up

Sand is applied via our sand topdressers and our team will utilize various leaf blowers to integrate the sand into the thousands of holes, the blowers reduce abrasion to the plant that would be seen from utilizing a large brush to move sand into the holes.  Our goal is to fill the holes with clean sand to improve drainage, increase firmness, remove unwanted organic matter and improve overall plant health.

Incorporating Sand Into the Open Channels 

Following the incorporation of the sand, the greens are fertilized to encourage growth and rolled to smooth. Unfortunatley, the healing process in the first week is extremely slow, we are unable to mow the greens until the plants grow through the sand layer applied. Generally, with ideal growing conditions, complete recovery will take 3-4 weeks. 

Post Sand Incorporation 

Thanks for your patience while we get a little cooperation from the weather to complete the process. 

Pat O'Brien

Grounds Superintendent